Cool-Season Planting Guide Zone 9b
Cool nights, mild days: perfect for a fresh wave of greens and roots in Zone 9b. Here’s my cool-season crop planting plan (with a cilantro pre-sprout tip) and a printable planting guide.
Beat Garden Pests This Summer With This Cheat Sheet
Summer Pest Survival Cheat Sheet A quick-action plan for zone 9b (and warm zones): scout fast, treat smart, protect beneficials, and keep harvests rolling all summer. Download the Printable Cheat Sheet (PDF) Covers: aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars (including hornworms), squash bugs, leaf miners, thrips, flea beetles. Quick ID (What am I seeing?) Signs Likely […]
How to Soak Garlic Before Planting
How to Soak Garlic Before Planting A simple two-step prep—fertilizer soak first, then a short hydrogen-peroxide rinse—for stronger starts and cleaner cloves in Zone 9b. Total Prep~4 hrs (mostly hands-off) Best TimingZone 9b: Late Oct–Nov Soak OrderFertilizer → Peroxide Printable1-Page PDF Guide VideoWatch on YouTube What You’ll Need Item Notes Garlic heads Choose large, firm […]
Whiskey Barrel Planters – How I Use ChatGPT To Create The Perfect Planting Guide (and how you can too!)
Whiskey Barrel Planters — Summer & Winter Planting Guides Two easy, zone-9b friendly barrel designs you can copy today—plus printable planting guides to take to the nursery. SizeStandard 26″ half barrel (≈ 3.5–4 cu ft) SunSummer: 4–6+ hrs • Winter: 3–6 hrs SoilLucky Cat 9b Mix FeedBio-tone at planting • Garden-tone monthly WaterDrip (2–4 emitters) […]
Soil Mix For Raised Garden Beds
Soil Mix for Raised Garden Beds The exact blends, ratios, and step-by-step method we use to fill raised beds once—and keep them thriving for seasons. What makes a great raised bed mix? Raised beds do best with a blend that drains well, holds steady moisture, and feeds the soil food web. Think of it as […]
Salsa Garden Problems – Solved!
From blossom end rot to bird attacks, my salsa garden kept me guessing—but once I solved the problems, I harvested baskets of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro for fresh homemade salsa. Here’s how I did it (and what I learned along the way).
My Attack On Aphids
How I Beat Aphids (For Good) A short story from our raised beds—and the exact action plan I now follow any time aphids show up. Once upon a Tuesday in the garden… The cucumbers looked fine from the path—perky, even smug. But when I turned a leaf, the stems were crowded with tiny, soft-bodied squatters. […]
The Essential Gardening Kit For Beginners
Everything You Need to Start a Garden From Scratch A simple guide for beginners who want to grow food, flowers, and confidence in their own backyard. So… you want to start a garden. Whether it’s for fresh herbs, homegrown veggies, or the satisfaction of getting your hands in the dirt, you’re in the right place. […]
How To Build The Ultimate Raised Garden Bed – Great For Growing Strawberries!
DIY Strawberry Raised Garden Bed — Final As-Built Dimensions (SketchUp) This post reflects the final **as-built** dimensions taken directly from our SketchUp plans so you can recreate the bed exactly. It’s a cedar two-tier planter with a 4×4 overhead beam for baskets — strong, beautiful, and efficient. As-Built VerifiedCedarTwo-Tier Shelves4×4 Beam Watch the overview above, […]
Low Maintenance Winter Garden Plants
Winter gardening in Zone 9b is a breeze with the right approach! Discover low-maintenance tips to keep your garden thriving during the cooler months, including hardy vegetables, frost-tolerant flowers, and simple strategies for watering, mulching, and pest control. Whether you’re growing kale, broccoli, or vibrant pansies, winter is the perfect time to enjoy a stress-free and productive garden. Embrace the season and let your garden flourish with minimal effort!